Sea Holly and Mistletoe Kisses

A Little Hotel in Cornwall #3

by Laura Briggs

Christmas is coming to Port Hewer and the hotel Penmarrow, where Maisie is suffering a case of the holiday blues far from home this year — until Gavin, a young American businessman staying at the hotel through Christmas, talks her into joining him as his partner in the hotel's ice sculpting competition in a mutual pact to enjoy the holidays to the fullest.

Meanwhile, Maisie experiences the village Christmas season vicariously through Sidney, and continues writing her Poe-inspired story with only Sidney aware of her secret novel. She soon learns, however, that criticism and praise go hand in hand when he takes issue with her latest chapters, which puts pressure on their friendship, too.

But is that what's really the issue between them? Because handsome Gavin has more than ice sculpting in mind when it comes to Maisie's time, which comes as a surprise to no one who's seen them together. As Maisie faces this sudden romantic dilemma, she realizes what she wants most in her life ... and faces a question of what her heart wants most, too.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Christmas

191 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 14, 2019

About the author

Laura Briggs is the bestselling author of multiple lighthearted romance books, including the Amazon UK Top 100's LATE TO THE WEDDING and the popular A WEDDING IN CORNWALL series. Since her debut with Pelican Book Group's inspirational novella ONLY IN NOVELS, she has worked both with publishers and as an independent author, as well as partnering with others writers, including working under a pen name in other genres. She loves vintage fashion, classic movies, British melodrama, and spending time with her pets.

Reviews

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cornwall and Christmas? Yes please! I was excited to get back to the Hotel Penmarrow and this colorful cast of characters! Maisie has been working at the hotel for a few months now, still secretly working on her novel. It is Christmas time and Masie is feeling a bit nostalgic for Home so when an American named Gavin shows up at the hotel she is instantly drawn to him. The two of them decide to team up for an ice sculpting contest, will things heat up or freeze up? Don’t forget about Sydney. Sydney has been a good friend, but there always seems to be the possibility of more. A constant will they? Won’t they? And Sydney doesn’t seem too happy about the American visiting the hotel, to say nothing about him teaming up with Maisie.

Laura Briggs always write such fun stories with such fantastic characters. I love the setting of Cornwall and this quirky hotel. I loved all the festive activities in the story the Christmas tree decorating and the Holiday ice sculpting. I have to admit I was completely intrigued with the process of I sculpting, I never really thought about it but it seems extremely difficult. Masie was great as always, although I’m not quite sure about this book she is writing? I think she needs to listen to Sydney! I loved her enthusiasm for Christmas and how into this ice sculpting contest she got. I love her friendship with Sydney and I am not quite sure what I’d like the final outcome to be. Once again all the secondary characters were fabulous. This book definitely filled me with the Christmas spirit!

This book in emojis 🎄 🖋 ⛏ ❄️

*** Big thanks to the author for my copy of this book ***

[Steph Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

See link for my review of the box set: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third and penultimate book in this series which has seen budding author, Maisie, travelling from America to a little hotel in Cornwall in search of a reclusive author she would like to mentor her in her writing. However, she was mistaken for someone starting a new job at the hotel and she decided to take on that alter ego so now she's there, working at the hotel and making friends with people in the village.

In this book she is invited by one of the guests, Gavin, to join him in participating in the hotel's first annual ice sculpting competition. As the two work together on developing their sculpting skills she's also still visiting the village and sharing her work in progress with her friend Sidney. He's great at analysing her writing and giving feedback but sometimes she finds it difficult to accept his criticisms initially. As Gavin obviously would like their relationship to be more than team mates and her attraction to Sidney is still growing, what should she do? Who will she choose?

Get ready to join in with the hotel's festivities, meet new visitors and reconnect with those in earlier books. This is a great addition to the series and now I can't wait to read what happens in the next book, 'The Cornish Secret of Summer's Promise', especially after reading the special excerpt from it which was included at the end of this book!

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazingly fun read!!

I absolutely enjoyed reading this Cornwall series. It is heartwarming and it is giving me all the Hallmark movie feels. I loved that we have a couple of characters from America and Maisie is from my hometown of California.

We are gifted a story in the setting of the beautiful 1920's designed hotel Penmarrow and its beautifully decked lobby in its full Christmas regalia and Christmas chorale in the background. I enjoy the busy Christmas buzz of the ice sculpting competition and around the guests, even a mystery one!!

There is an amazing cast of characters from Maisie who is the chambermaid and an aspiring author, Gavin Crandall the American guest at the hotel and the ever so handsome groundskeeper Sidney. I love how Briggs inserts these funny scenes with Brigette in the front desk with Molly the new trainee and Riley the porter. It is just non-stop fun with the happenings in the hotel and in the village.

I enjoyed this story full of holiday spirit - that is cozy, festive, funny with a great love triangle to keep the heart fluttering.

[Dash fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆ A Warm and Cosy, Feel Good Festive Romance

Sea Holly and Mistletoe Kisses is the third book in the series. But can be read as a standalone.
Although I highly recommend reading all three of these delightful books, you won't be disappointed!
It was great to be back to see what's been happening at Hotel Penmarrow.

Maisie is back! Still writing her novel in secret and still working in the gorgeous Hotel Penmarrow.
But this time round she's befriended fellow American and guest Gavin.
Gavin and Maisie are getting along really well, and when Gavin asks her to enter the ice sculpting competition she jumps at the chance. Spending so much time together helps Maisie deal with her homesickness.

It's clear to see that Gavin is harbouring feelings for Maisie.
But she holds a special torch in her heart for the loveable Sydney.
Things have never quiet crossed over the friendship line between Maisie and Sydney, although there is clearly a wonderful chemistry between them.
Could this be the year that they get together or will Gavin melt her heart along with the ice sculpture?

Sea Holly and Mistletoe Kisses Is a wonderfully warm and Cosy, Festive, Feel Good Read, and the perfect third instalment.
The pace flows along perfectly with plenty of laugh out loud moments, drama, potential romance, wonderful quirky and loveable Characters, and a gorgeous festive setting, what's not to love!
Although this is a novella, Laura has packed so much in, I really hope there will be more to come!

​
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.


My Review is also on my Blog Website :-

https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/1...

[Tiziana Langone · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a happy reunion this was, reading again about Maisie and her adventures in Cornwall!
And this time, it’s even Christmas time!

Maisie continues working in the hotel and working at the same time for her novel. When an American guest arrives, Gavin, they quickly bond as being both from the States.
And when they start following an ice sculpting course, she sees it as a simple passing the time, but is that all for Gavin too?
And let’s not forget about Sidney, as the relationship between Maisie and Sidney starts to develop into something more…

It was real fun for me to see how Maisie manages to be oblivious sometimes, but even if it causes misunderstandings, she does everything with a kind heart and with the best intentions.
Also her writing skills are also developing for the best.
And Sidney, intriguing Sidney with his air of mystery…

During the whole series, we know what Maisie her feelings for Sidney are, but does she dare to take the lead and finally just go for it?

As this book isn’t the conclusion of Maisie and her adventures yet, I cannot wait to read more!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Christmas holidays are almost here. Maisie hasn't had a regular or normal Christmas in a number of years. She doesn't realize that she is homesick until a fellow American shows up as a guest. He doesn't seem to know anyone else in Cornwall and asks Maisie to be his partner in holiday related experiences, including ice sculpting. Maisie doesn't know many local people either, but she spends some down time with Sidney, who also is not celebrating Christmas, although he isn't avoiding the treats and decorations of the season.
Why is Sidney acting jealous? He is the one who knows Maisie's secret ambition to be a writer. Is he being tougher on her than he needs to be because she has made a new friend?
Best read in order but this series can be enjoyed as stand alone books. Watch as Maisie's adventure unfolds and her relationships develop.

[Between The Pages (Gemma M) · Rating 4 out of 5]

; It appears this is book three in A Little Hotel in Cornwall series, which I didn’t know. However, it read perfectly fine as a standalone. It is a short read at just under 200 pages. Set in a hotel in Cornwall. You get a good background of the main character Maisie so I don’t have a clue what happened in book one or two, I will have to go back and read these.
A beautiful setting for the story and a brilliant time of year AKA Christmas! Could romance be on the books for Maisie this year? It sure is possible. Brilliantly written however, there is no chapters at all in this book, just one long story which is hard to find places to stop. I also learnt a lot from this book about Ice sculpturing. Different.
An easy, different festive read for 2019! A well deserved four stars from me.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5 stars. I'm having trouble figuring out just what the point of this series is, as we experience a few weeks of Maisie's life in each book, but nothing really happens to move the story forward. There doesn't seem to be any kind of major conflict, which every plot needs. In addition, the author makes rather egregious errors in reference to other author's works — in an earlier volume, she had Maisie discuss Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca as if the title character were the heroine-narrator of the story; and in this one she has confused/conflated Edgar Allan Poe's poems Annabel Lee and The Bells, with a little of The Raven thrown in! Charming as the setting and characters are, I really cannot recommend it.

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun step into the life of Maisie and her quest for writerly fame, while working in a Cornish hotel.
This time, she gets caught up in an ice sculpture contest with a guest who is a fellow American, and who also appears to have taken a liking to our writer...
Does this mean the end of the road for the budding romance between Maisie and Sydney, the local(ish) handyman?
Lots of little twists and turns, and another end on a cliffhanger.
Of course, I want to read on. I need to know if my hunch is right!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled picking up the threads of the previous book due to the timescale between reading them, but once passed that stage I really enjoyed the book and am moving straight on to the next one.

[Janice Alvord · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a continuation of what the other first two were and didn't disappoint me. It was a nice story, now on to Book #4. Can't wait to see what happens with Maisie and Sidney.

[Karen Tucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoy the story but was disappointed with the ending it was a bit flat.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Laura's work for a little while now. I haven't yet read all of her books but I am making my way through her previous books as well as trying to keep up with Laura's new books. I read the synopsis for 'Sea Holly & Mistletoe Kisses' and it certainly felt as though I was going to be in for a treat when I eventually read it. I wasn't wrong either because I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Sea Holly & Mistletoe Kisses' but more about that in a little bit.
I was drawn to this book by the memorable title and by the brightness of the front cover of the book. I can honestly say that I have never come across another book that shares the same title as this one. The book really stood out for me. I couldn't wait to start reading because I knew that I was in for a real treat, as Laura's books are like 'a hug from a mug of hot chocolate'- in other words the book would make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside and leave you with a smile on your face.
As soon as I started to read the book that was it, I just knew that reading 'Sea Holly & Mistletoe Kisses' would become a serious addiction and so it proved to be. I found it nigh on impossible to be parted from the book. It was as if I feared breaking the hold that the book had developed over me. I had taken to the characters so well that I had to keep reading to discover what fate had in store for them. The book isn't all that long and comes in at just under 200 pages. It didn't take me long at all to get through this book and I was most disappointed when I reached the end of the book. I don't mean that to sound negative but I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just didn't want the book to end. When I agreed to participate in the blog tour for 'Sea Holly & Mistletoe Kisses', I didn't realise that it was actually the third book in the 'A Little Hotel In Cornwall' series. I know I should pay more attention. The book being part of a series didn't put me off at all because I knew that if I enjoyed 'Sea Holly & Mistletoe Kisses' , I would have another two books in the series to catch up on whilst I waited for Laura's next book.
'Sea Holly & Mistletoe Kisses' is really well written but then I find that to be the case with all of Laura's books. She grabs your attention and once she has it, she will not let it go until the moment you close the back cover as it were. Laura writes so realistically and uses such vivid descriptions of her characters that I really did feel as though they sprang to life and leapt off the page as it were. Laura also has a way of making the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves or that's how I felt at any rate.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Sea Holly & Mistletoe Kisses' and I wholeheartedly recommend this author and her books to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Laura's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

[Adele · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a lovely welcomed return to the hotel in Cornwall and to Maisie who has been working at the hotel a few months now. Maisie is still writing her novel although she hasn't found her favourite author yet, he appears to be incognito, however, she is striving on under how own steam and with a little help from local handyman, Sidney, who has become a close friend to her. With the festive season approaching Maisie is feeling a little nostalgic and homesick but when a new hotel guest from America offers her support a friendship soon develops.
Maisie and Sidney's friendship has been developing beautifully and you have a 'will they won't they' feeling about possible romantic intentions between them but when Sidney spots Maisie with the American guest he becomes a little frosty and guarded with his feelings towards her. Maisie soon becomes confused with emotions of the heart but with Christmas Day looming fast she feels she needs to accept her true feelings, hopes and dreams.
I'm really enjoying this series by Laura Briggs, it's lovely to catch up with new instalments and continue with the blossoming friendship between Maisie and Sidney. The myriad of characters working at the hotel are such fun and bring much colour to the hotel and the storyline. I'm looking forward to the next instalment and wonder if Maisie will ever get her chance to be mentored by her favourite author, although I do have a sneaky feeling we may have already met the author?!
A fun, entertaining, charming series that leaves you wanting that little bit more ...

[Tasha Mahoney]

This is where I usually say that while this is part of a series, you do not need to read the rest of the series. In this case, I feel that readers would benefit from reading earlier books.  Having said that, I did really enjoy reading Sea Holly and Mistletoe Kisses, I just feel that it would have been a richer reading experience if I had read the previous books.

This was a wonderfully festive tale with a good dose of romance. Maisie has travelled from America and is staying in Cornwall's (Southern England) Hotel Penmarrow. Maisie is suffering a case of holiday, homesick blues. Enter Gavin, a fellow American who asks Maisie to work with him in the ice sculpting competition. (Of course, his intentions are not just to win.) 

Sidney is Maisie's friend and confidante.. He reads her work as she writes it. When Sidney is somewhat critical of Maisie's recent scribing, it does not go down too well. He also has strong feelings for her.

You will have to read what happens, and who, if any, win Maisie's heart. What I can say is that this is a beautifully penned festive treat. It has less calories than a mince pie. but is equally tasty.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for something different for the festive season. then this book is probably for you.
The third book in the series 'A Little Hotel in Cornwall', has a quirky, and intriguing protagonist, and a cast of original characters, who are drawn together in this idyllic coastal spot in Cornwall.

I haven't read the first two books, and I suspect that I would have enjoyed this one even more if I had. The story has a saga quality, exploring Maisie's ambitions as a novelist, friendship with Sidney, past secrets and Maise's interactions with the other hotel workers and guests.

This story has a charming, engaging writing style and complex, original characters. It allows you holiday escapism, with a lovely festive touch. The final instalment is out in January, and I will hopefully be reading the first two in the series before then.

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.